Mold for making rubber masks or face pieces for respirators, inhalers, and similar articles



May 5, 1 925.

1,536,857 A. M. HUDSO N MOLD FOR MAKING RUBBER HAS S OR FACE PIECES FOR RESPIRATORS,

. INHALERS SIMILA R AR'I'ICLES Original ed Aug. 22. 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet l I NM MMM May 5, 1925. 1,5365857 A. M. HUDSON HOLD FOB MAKING RUBBER MASKS OR FACE PIECES FOR RESPIRATORS,

J INHALERS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Original Filed Aug. 22. 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet Z- May 5, 1925. 1,53 ,357

. A. M. HUDSON HOLD FOR MAKING RUBBER MASKS OR FACE PIECES FOR RESPIRAIORS,

INHALERS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Original Filed Aug. 22. 1919 SSheets-Sheet :5

Patented May 5, i925.

I I I 1,53 ,235"? I ED STA ES PATENTOFFKZE.

ALEXANDER M. mm'sontr new Yoim, a.

Moi-.1) ma MAKING sunken MASKS on rAos-rI-EoEs FOR nnsr'mn'ro ns, INHAi'JE B S,

AND SIMILAR ARTICLES.

Original application filed Au ust 2"2, 191a, s an in). 319.056. l Di'vided-and this application filed May 31,

' My invmitionr'elates to in beiflniask's and to .fa'ce piece for resp rators, inhalers and the like, 'aii'd'to iit'ieaii's" for making the/ same, and is a dlvislofn of my application Serial No. 319,096, fiIedAag. 22, 1919.

[It has for its object'toprodiic'e rage ie s for res 'niators,inhalers, fire masks, and

Si'lililili articles, of rubbeiyijnoludiiig prefferably the means for atta ching not only the containers which hold the chemical filtering material or heun ahzei"thrombi which in amnion takes lace, biitlals'o the exhalation devices, as ivell as means for fastening the device to thehead o t the u's'e13'the entire contrivance hem preferably in bile piece.

v Its object also is to meet meg-rearing. need .fera respirator that can be'liad at a loiv cost for those workers inv industries whose healtllis endangeredby coming into iieees-l sary contact with bacteri poisonous fumes, noxious gasesantldlsease germs, as well as for protectionagainst. dust, smoke and other deleterious agents.

Another object, is a) form the wall s of at mask or face piece so thatythe inner walls which Contact with the face of'the user shall be thinner tlnuitlie' rest of the mask or face; piece; preferably by graduatingordinnnish ing the thickness ofsu'ch Walls toward the inner edges of the mask. This construction results in a practically perfect air seiil; Another object is to produce a mask with a thin rim or flange extending around the mm or face-contacting portion and in which, if desired, a gi'ooyeis formed; to make thorough the air-excludin contact with the face. r

Another object of my invention is to pro Vide a mask for use. in sudden emergencies ri'h'ic-h, owing to its novel construction; can beinstantly applied tothe faceand retained there for some time itithontf fastenings by mere inhalation of theuser; the exhausting Mariam 1922. Serial in. 564,711.

of the air in the mask in this way creating a practical vacu'i'nn. i

.Another object is to provide a mold with interchangeable.members so that the face piece may 'be fo rnred alone or may, in one operation, be integrally combined with the other features hereinafter described.

Other objects a1'e to inake it possible to construct at moderate. cost respirators and sii'nilai articles of light Weight which are adapted to be made readily applicable to all types of facesgare easily attachedand'fit better than'a'ny heretofore known, and which donot irritate the face; hose operation is certain and which can be kept on indefinitery; which can be used repeatedly and yet always be kept clean and sanitary since, b

,ihginade of rubber, they can besubjected to frequent sterilization Withoutdeterioratiii ghancl which, in emergencies, can be, applied to the face instantly and retained there without :t'astenings for a considerable time. n the drawings aoc ompanyingthis specification I lia e illustrated several forms ofmy n'eiy mask, and my preferred form of mold for making the same: Fig l is aplan View of the assembled parts of themold; Fig. 2 isan endview thereof; Fig; 3 is across-section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a Asstc1 foR To itimvii i A. area, as new Yon-K, N. Y. l

plan View of the base plate with its upward- 1y extending triangular center part or core, and of the-second or cavity plate, the third ortop plate not being shown; Fig. 5 is an inside iew of the top plate; Fig 6 is a plan View of the core; Fig. 7 is a bottom View of the cavity-plate; Fig. 8 is a perspective View of finished mask or .protector for the nostrils only, made by the mold illustrated in the preceding figures, Fig. 18 being a cross section on the line 1818 showing the thin iiinerwall thereof with its flange and coneaye portion. Fig. 9 is apartial plan View of a modifiediorln of mold, part of the top plate being broken away, and Fig. 10 is a perspective yieiv of the type of mask made bythis mold. Fig. 11 is a plairview of another modification of my inold, the top plate being removed, andFig. 12 a perspective View of thetype of mask produced thereby.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 8 in'- elusive, which illustrate the preferred embodiment of n1.y invention, 1 represents the base plate, and 2 the triangular centre or core portion forming part thereof, shown in plan in Fig. 6. 3, 3 are circular members extending upwardly from said core. The bottom or base plate is cut away at t near the base of the core, and in this design of mold is provided with a rib lhe. triangular core is made with walls which slope slightly upward and inward from the bottom plate, as shown at 6. 7 is the ccnt'e or cavity plate which its over the tri angular core port-ion 2. An inside view of this cavity plate is illustrated in Fig. '7, its walls sloping to conform with those of the triangular core, and having dowel pins 8 which engage with holes 9 located in the bottom plate 1. 10 is the top plate countersunk as at 11 to correspond with the triangular core portion, and at 12, 12 to form extensions for fastening means, 13. 1-3 being dowel pins fitting in holes 13, 13. 1-1, 14L and 15, 15 are openings for the reception of the pins 16, 1G and 17, 1?, respectively. 18, 18 are holes which engage the members 3, 3.

In carrying out my invention on my improved mold described above, I proceeo as follows: The sections of the mold being separated, strips of rubber are placed around and on top of the-triangular portion of the bottom plate, and are made to overlap the part of the cutout portion a at the base. The centre or cavity plate is then placed in position over the core, and pieces of rubber placed around the two circular members on top of the core, and on portions of the top of the centre plate to form extensions for fastening means. When this has been done the top of the device is put on, and the mold placed in a press which is operated until the two platens of the press bet-ween which it is located have brought the heavy metal parts of the mold 'into close contact.

The mold is retained in the press. which is heated in any desired way at a pres sure of from ninety to one hundred pounds, until the heat and pressure both unite and vulcanize the rubber into the desired shape. The time required usually varies from between ten minutes to three quarters of an hour or thcreabouts. 'ihc resulting product is a device which is in one piece, having graduating walls that riach their greatest degree of thinncss their inner or face-contacting parts, a flange encircling the said inner part, and with hollow projections to which con ners holding chemical neutralizers may be cou pled as well as means for fast and In the finished device shown in Fig. 0', 18, 18 are the tubular members to which the containers holding the chcnjcal composition or neutralizer are joined, and

through which the user inhales the air, and 19, 19 are holes to which the exhalation valves are attached. 20 is the tlange and 21, 21 are the extension pieces for any appropriate fastening means.

In putting the rubber in the mold it is not necessary to have it in one strip. Any number of pieces, sn all. and large, may be used, the only essential being that suitic-ient is put in to cover the sides and top of the core and surround the pins and overlap tor the extensions.

A. very importanttmture of my invention is the provision for securing the thin inner walls referred to above, shown at iii, in Fig. 13.

In the form shown in Figure 13 a concave portion 22, illustrate-l in Fig. 13, is provided in flange :20, which operates to render more effective the air seal resulting from the close contact with the face. As is evident, this is due to the adder flexibility given to the flange by the resiliency oi. this loop, so that when prcssiu'e is applied to it, either by inhalation or through fastening means, it flattens out on the face to some extent, and makes the entry of noxious air or poisonous tomes impossible. lint even where the hinge is cn tirely dispensed with, and the walls of the mask are straight, their thinness is of such a degree that in use their mere contact with the face is su'l'licient to cause them to flatten out at their edges and term a narrow flange, thus retaining the vacuum created.

Fig. 9 shows a. modification of my improved mold, the construction o'l which will be clear from the above description. 23 is the base plate, and (litters troiin the base plate already described merely in having, in addition to the triangular core 21-, the de pressed portion :26, 2G and ET, 2'? are members for the formation of the inhalation and exhalation means, respectively, the purposes for which have already been referred to in connection with other figures. Fig. 10 illustrates a finished mask made on this mold. 25 is a combined llange and fastening flap to hold the respiratin' in place, either by means of a button placed in one of the holes 28, or in any way desired. 26 26 and 2?, 27 are the tubular members to which the inhalation and exhalation devices, respectively, are connected.

In Figs. 11 and 12 are shown another modification ot the improved mold and its product. The base plate is similar to those already described except that its triangular core has termed on it, in addition to the two upright members 30. 30. the curved nicmbcr S1. The r 18011 for this is seen in Fig. 12 in the tubular curved member 81 opening at right angles to the straight tubular members 30, 30. 32 is the flange means? and 33, 33 the vfastening device, The method of producing these has already been described, and' the means for forming the latter are. shown in dotted lines at 33*, Fig. 11

The mask illustrated in Fig. 12 is particu:

larly adapted for dental worln It is in use placed over the nostrils. and retained there.

The source while the work is progressing. of supply of the gas, or other anesthetic to be administered, is connected with 31. The exhalation devices are attached to '30 30. After the-requisite condition of air-- algesia has been produced in the patient,,the supply is cut oil but, as the patient is al-v ways under the observation of the physician, the supply can be renewed as needed. The device is therefore never inthe way of the physician at work, and provides means.

for the respiration of the patient and ready control of the. anesthetic. v

One of the very great advantages of my face pieceor mask in all its forms is the ease with which it canbe fitted to all types The thin side walls readily adapt My invention is also peculiarly well suited to masks tor usein great emergencies suclnior instance, as in. thiexca'se' of explosions or the breaking of a retort in a laboratory, where protection against poisonous fumes or gases for a 'short time is vital.v

Such a mask,- constructed in accordance with my invention, with its: thin side walls,

but without inhalation or exhalation vents,

can-beclapped to'the face instantly, and. the

simpleinhalationof the user, thereby creating a vacuum, will be sufficient to retain it in place for several minutes-without any fastening. I

My improved mask or .tace piece illustrated in. the drawingsand described above, is notclaimed herein but is covered in pending application Serial No. 319,096, of which this is a division.

It will be understood, of course,flthat changes within the scope of the appended claims may be made inm'y improved mold without departing from the spirit o-l my invention. I

hat I claim as, new and desire to secure by Letters Patent'is: l

1. A mold for making masks or facepieces for respirators,"inhalers and similar articles, consisting of a'base plate, a :core extending upward therefrom, a cavity plate fitting loosely oversaid' core, said core and cavity plate having sloping walls which are adapted toleave a graduated opening therebetween, a top plate upon said cavity plate, and means to hold all of saidmembers in combined engagement for the pur pose herein ,set forth.

2;. A mold for making masks or face pieces for respirators, inhalers and similar articles consisting of a member with a substantially triangular core having upright members formed integral therewith, the walls of said core sloping upward and inward from the base, a second member with cavity therein fitting looselyv over said.

core, the walls of said cavity inclined at.

such an angle'with the sloping walls of the. core as to leave a space narrower at the Q base than elsewhere, a third member to en.- gage the other members, and means for holding the members together in combined. engagementfor the purpose herein set forth.

3. A mold formaking masks or face pieces for respirators, inhalers and similar articles consisting of a base plate with a substantially triangular core formed integral therewith, said core having upwardly extending members, asecond plate with a cavity therein adapted to fit overv said core,

the walls of said core and said cavity plate.

so shaped as to have the narrowest space at thebottom, and a top plate to engage said cavity plate and the top of the COIG ELIICli means for holding the members together in combined engagement for thepurposeherein set forth.

4. In molds for making masksor face pieces for respirators, inhalers, and sim-lar articles, the combination of a base plate with a core formed integral therewith, a second plate with a cavity therein adapted to fit over said core, the walls of said core and said cavity plate so shaped as to have the narrowest space at'the bottom, and means tor enclosng said core and cavity plate to term a mold, and holding themembers in corn bined engagement for the purpose herein described. v 1.,

5 In molds of the character herein described, the combination of a base plate with a core formed integral therewith, plate with a cavity therein adapted to fit over said core, the walls of said core and said cavity plate so shaped'as to have thenarrowest space at the bottom, the lower surface of the cavity plate being cut away to form a narrow groove, and means for enclosing said core. and cavity plate to form a. mold and to hold the members in combined engagement for the purpose herein set forth.

6. A mold for making masks or face pieces I for respirators, inhalers and similar articles, consisting of a base plate with a core formed integral therewith, a plate with: acavity therein adapted to fit over said core, the walls of the core and said cavity plate so shaped as to have the narrowest space between them at the bottom, a ridge around the baseplate-v adjacent the core, and the under side of the cavity plate cut away to form a space above said ridge whereby a groove is formed in the mask, and means for enclosing said core and cavity plate to form a mold and hold the members in combined engagement for the purpose herein described.

7. In molds of the character herein described, the combination of a base plate with a core formed integral therewith, a cavity plate fitting loosely over said core, the walls of said core and said cavity plate so shaped as to have the narrowest space between them at the bottom, members extending upright from said core, and a top plate with recesses corresponding to said upright members to close the mold, substantially as set forth.

8. The mold for making masks or face pieces of rubber having, in combination a base plate having a raised core portion with sloping sides, a cavity plate with inclined sides fitting loosely over said core, between which base and cavity plates rubber is placed to form the walls of the face piece, the space between said members decreasing in width to form walls of graduated thinness, a top plate with its under side countersunk to accommodate the top of said core, between which core and top plate rubber is placed to form the back of the face piece, and means for holding all the members of the mold together in combined engagement for the purpose set forth.

9. The mold for making masks or face pieces of rubber having, in combination, a. base or bottom plate having a raised core portion with sloping sides, a cavity plate with inclined sides fitting loosely over said core between which base and cavity plates rubber is placed to form the walls of the face piece, the space between said members decreasing in width to form walls of graduated thinness, members extending from said core piece, a top plate with its under side countersunk to accommodate the top of said core with its extending members, between which core and top plates rubber s placed to form the back of the face piece with its openings for inhalation and exhalation devices, and means for holding all the members of the mold together in combined engagement for the purpose set forth.

10. The mold for making masks or face pieces of rubber having, in combination, a base or bottom plate having a raised core portion with sloping sides and a cutaway portion surrounding the base of said core, a cavity plate with inclined sides fitting loosely over said core, between which base and cavity plates and over said cutaway portion rubber is placed to form the walls of the face piece and a flange, the space between said members decreasing in width to form walls of graduated thinness, members extending from said core piece, a top plate with its under side countersunk to accommodate the top of said core with its extending members, between which core and top plate rubber is placed to form the back of the face piece with its openings for inhalation and exhalation devices, and means for holding all of the members of the mold in combined engagement for the purpose sci forth.

11. The mold for making masks or face pieces of rubber having, in combination, a

base or bottom plate having a raised core portion with sloping sides and a cutaway portion surrounding the base of said core, a cavity plate with inclined sides fitting loosely over said core, between which base and cavity plates and over said cuta ay portion rubber is placed to form the walls of the face piece and a flange, the space between said members decreasing in width to form walls of graduated thinness, members extending from said core piece, a top plate with its underside countersunk to accommodate the top of said core with its extending members, and having a depressed section extending from either side of the said sunken part, between which core and top plate rubher is placed to form the back of the face piece with its openings for inhalation and exhalation devices, and extension pieces for fastening purposes, and means for holding all of the members of the mold in combined engagement for the purpose set forth.

12. The mold for making masks or face pieces of rubber having, in combination, a bottom plate having a raised core portion with sloping sides and a cutaway portion surrounding the base of said core, and a rib in said cutaway portion, a cavity plate with inclined sides fitting loosely over said core. between which base and cavity plates and over said cutaway portion rubber is placed to form the walls of the face piece and a flange with a groove therein, the space between said members decreasing in width to form walls of graduated thinness, members extending from said core piece, a top platewith its under side countersunk to ZILCUI11- modate the top of said core with its extending members, between which core and top plate rubber is placed to form the back of the face piece with its openings for inhalation and exhalation devices, and means for holding the members of the mold in combined engagement for the purpose set forth.

13. The mold for making masks or face pieces of rubber having in combination. a bottom plate with a depressed area and a raised core portion with sloping sides extending upward therefrom, a cavity plate with inclined sides fitting loosely over said core, between which base and cavity plates rubber is placed to form the walls of the face-piece and a flange, the space between said members, decreasing in width to form walls of graduated thinness, members extending from said core piece, a top plate with its under side countersunk to accommodate the top of said core with itsextending members, between which core and top plate rubber is placed to form the back of the face piece with its openings for, inhalation andexhalation devices, and means for holding the members of themold in combined engagement for the purpose set forth.

14. The mold for making masks or face pieces of rubber having, in combination, a

bottom plate with a depressed area and a raised core portion with sloping sides ex-. tending upward therefrom, a cavity plate,

with inclined sides fitting loosely over said core, between which base and cavity plates from said core piece, a top plate with its under side countersunk to accommodate the top of said core with its extending members, between which core and top plate rubber is placed to form the back of the face piece with its openings for'inhalation and exhalation devices, and means for holding the members of the mold in combined engagement for the purpose set forth. c v

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. I

ALEXANDER M. HUDSON. 

